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QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must be of good moral character, a citizen of the United States and must be at least 20 years of age, with no maximum age limit, on date of probationary appointment to the position of Trooper-Trainee. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States and must possess or be eligible to obtain a valid Texas driver’s license.
Body fat composition test: males-17%; females-23%. Vision: Maximum uncorrected visual acuity of 20/200 and correctable or corrected as follows:
20/30 thru 20/40 – correctable to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly.
In excess of 20/40 thru 20/100 – must be corrected to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly by means of regular eyeglasses or contact lenses.
In excess of 20/100 thru 20/200 – must be corrected to 20/30 in each eye and binocularly by contact lenses and a statement from an ophthalmologist that no ocular disease exists

EDUCATION:
Applicants must have a minimum of ninety (90) semester hours from an accredited college or university. Required semester hours may be substituted for by prior law enforcement, correctional, or jailer experience at the following ratios:

Applicants substituting law enforcement, correctional officer or jailer experience for the college hours requirements must, at a minimum, have obtained a GED and 12 semester hours of college (maintaining a 2.0 average) or have graduated from high school.

Thirty-six (36) months military experience may be substituted for the entire 90 semester hours.

CRIMINAL/TRAFFIC RECORD: Any of the following will disqualify the applicant:

Having been on or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any felony;

Having been convicted of a felony;

Having been on or currently on court-ordered supervision or probation for any criminal offense of the grade of Class B misdemeanor or above in the last ten (10) years;

Having been convicted of any criminal offense of the grade of Class B misdemeanor or above in the last ten (10) years;

Having been convicted of a family violence offense;

Currently being under indictment;

Being prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;

Being prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;

Having had a drivers license suspension for habitual violator in the last five years;

Having been convicted of four (4) or more hazardous traffic violations within twelve (12) months preceding date of application;

Having been convicted of seven (7) or more hazardous traffic violations within twenty-four (24) months preceding date of application;

Currently being on probation for any traffic offense; or

Having been convicted of the misdemeanor offense of DWI, indecent exposure or delivery of any amount of marijuana with or without remuneration.

EMPLOYMENT

Contact any DPS office or trooper for an application. Take the completed application to the nearest regional, district or sub-district DPS office where the examination will be given. Each applicant will be told immediately if they have qualified for further consideration. Applicants will be given a physical agility test as well as several written tests. A thorough character investigation will be conducted. A physical examination will be arranged for those accepted for employment.

TRAINING

Cadets will be assigned to Austin for a 26-week long training school at the DPS Law Enforcement Academy. The training is designed to equip cadets to handle any of the various situations they may encounter as a State Trooper which will start them on a rewarding career in law enforcement. The salary during cadet training is $2,416.66 monthly. All cadets successfully completing the DPS Academy will be required to pass a written licensing test administered by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

BENEFITS

During recruit training salary is $2,416.66. At graduation and commissioning salary increases to $2,666.66 a month. Following one year of commissioned service, salary is raised to $3,033.33 monthly. Troopers also receive monthly cleaning allowance and receive travel expenses when away from their duty station. Uniforms, vehicles, weapons and related equipment are furnished. Group life and hospitalization are paid for employees, dependent coverage is available at reasonable rates. Troopers participate in the Employees Retirement System of Texas and are covered by worker's compensation: vacation, holidays and sick leave are provided as with any other state employee.

ASSIGNMENT

Assignments will be made to the Highway Patrol Service, License and Weight Service, or Driver License Service according to the needs of the Department, and consideration of personal preference. Experienced troopers are eligible to compete for promotions in the uniformed services. Experienced uniformed personnel, interested in criminal investigation, may compete for promotions in Criminal Law Enforcement Division which includes Narcotics, Special Crimes, Motor Vehicle Theft and Polygraph Services or Texas Rangers Division as vacancies occur.

DUTIES

DPS is a state police agency.

Criminal Law Enforcement Division officers assist local officers and other State and Federal agencies in enforcement of all criminal laws.

Traffic Law Enforcement Division officers enforce traffic laws on rural Texas highways and perform a variety of other duties.

Effective September 1st, 2003, the Traffic Law Enforcement Division (founded in 1968) changed to the new Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division. The division, once made up of several services, now only has two (2) services--Highway Patrol (HP) and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE). The new HP Service incorporates the Highway Patrol service, the Capitol service, the Vehicle Inspection Service, and the Safety Education service. The former License and Weight Service is now known as Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.